Coventry City Council’s efforts to promote digital inclusion across the city have received a major funding boost.
The Council’s digital inclusion programme, #CovConnects, has received £340,000 to support its ongoing work within in the city.
The funding, which comes from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the West Midlands Combined Authority, will help the team secure 1250 Mi-Fi units which will be distributed through the programme’s #CovConnects Device Bank.
Mi-fi units are small, portable devices which allow people to use 4g/5g units to connect to the internet. Each of the units comes with 2 years’ worth of unlimited data enabling residents to connect to the digital world. The mi-fi devices and sim cards have been provided thanks to the Council’s ongoing partnership with Vodafone.
The Device Bank launched in July 2023 and has distributed over 3850 devices to organisations across the city. These devices are used by these groups to help support residents in their everyday lives allowing the most vulnerable in the city to complete everyday task such as online banking, filling our job applications and accessing vital NHS services.
Cllr Richard Brown, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources, said: “As an organisation, we’re committed to ensuring that as many residents as possible can access the digital world. This funding will help us do just that.
“It will allow us to expand our efforts and get more of these devices into the hands of those who need it most. Having your own device, which you can use every day, is something that has the potential to completely transform your life. “
Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “So much in life is reliant on us being online, whether that’s finding a job, booking a GP appointment, or managing finances. Too many people are still locked out of opportunities because they don’t have reliable internet or the right digital skills and this can be isolating. It’s why I want more people to have the digital access they need to get on in life. This scheme is a step towards breaking down those barriers, helping more people access the services, support, and training they need to build a better future."
The #CovConnects Device Bank is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
To find out more about the device bank and applying for devices for your organisation, visit: #CovConnects Device Bank – Coventry City Council
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. Please visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund webpage for more information
Get in touch with us to find out more about the digital inclusion programme in Coventry, devices, data and skills provisions we can help with: covconnectsdigital@coventry.gov.uk